4
News
WedNcsdAy, FebRURAy 1?, 2002
TI he CL ac I camas P rìnt
FRANK JORDAN / Clackamas Print
Groups of protesters and lobbyists gather on the steps of the Oregon State Capitol In Salem on Feb. 8 during the special session of the legislature called by Gov. John
Kitzhaber. The special session was held to deal with the budget crisis that faces the state In the 2001-03 biennium. The session lasted until the wee hours of Feb. 11.
Clackamas ASG members, along with student leaders from community colleges all over Oregon, attended the opening day of the legislative session.
Budget battles loom as lawmakers hold special session
FRANKJORDAN
News Editor
Several members of the Associated
Student Government here at
Clackamas attended the opening ofthe
Oregon legislative special session in
Salem last Friday.
ASG President Stefan Myers and
other members of student government
made the trip to the capitol to help
lobby legislative members and Gov.
John Kitzhaber into saving major por
tions of the community college money
that is given by the state to the col
leges every year.
The special session called by
Kitzhaber was in response to the
state’s $715 million budget shortfall and
the need to come up with a plan to
balance the budget for the 2001-03 bi
ennium. The leadership of the Legis
lature adjourned the session at approxi
mately 4 a.m. Monday morning and
sent a revised budget to the governor’s
desk. Kitzhaber was expected to veto
a significant portion of the proposed
budget
The governor was not happy that
most ofhis proposed tax increases were
not passed and the Oregon House and
Senate did not approve the budget cuts
he had hoped for. The governor op
poses much of the legislature’s plan,
particularly the idea of tapping into
school trust funds to help fund the
shortfall. The governor wants to in
crease taxes on alcohol and cigarettes,
and he also wants to delay an income
tax cut that was approved by voters
last fall.
A proposed 3.3 percent cut in com
munity college funding was upheld in
the final legislative budget, but may
have to go back to the drawing board
ifthe governor wields his veto upon it
Although cuts are inevitable at the
community college level, local legisla
tors were confident that the cuts would
not be as bad as possible.
“Actually, things are looking pretty
good for the community colleges.
Everyone will have to take a hit but
the proposed cuts should not be as
severe,” commented Sen. Verne
Duncan (R-District 12), who serves the
area that includes the college. “Every
"Every legislator |
¡¿tows what a /
bargain commu
nity colleges are to
the livelihood of
the state."
Verne
Duncan
Senator
(R-Dlst. 12)
legislator knows what a bargain com
munity colleges are to the livelihood
of the state.”
Martha Schrader, wife and spokes
person for Democratic Rep. Kurt
Schrader of District 23, which includes
CCC, said that her husband felt’that
“things were moving along, but prob
ably not as well as he had hoped. Kurt
really supports the community col
leges, and hoped that severe cuts
would not have to be made. Things
were not as bad as the governor had
made everything out to be.”
A carnival-like atmosphere envel-
oped the capitol on Friday for the open-
ing of the legislative session. Many
citizens, lobbyists and media members
came to Salem to witness the action, or
in many cases, the inaction.
Lars Larson, radio talk show host
for Newsradio750KXL, held court live
on the air for most of the afternoon.
Larson interviewed several legislators
and citizens alike, asking their opin
ions on several topics related to the
budget battle.
Many lobbying groups were also
on hand at the capitol, everyone from
environmentalists to those people look
ing to save portions of the Oregon
Health Plan from proposed severe
cuts.
Students from all over the state
showed up and took part in several
rallies to try to sway lawmakers from
cutting the education budget Legis
lators have proposed cutting $112 mil
lion from the K-12 education budget
and borrowing $120 million from the
Common School Fund to help balance
the budget.
"There is a tremendous emphasis
placed on trying to prevent cuts to the
K-12 budget Oh, how I wish that were
possible. What this plan does reflect
is a reduction the education commu
nity most prefers,” said Rep. Ben
Westlund (R-District 55).
If Governor Kitzhaber vetoes por
tions of the legislative budget plan,
then he will not have any choice but to
reconvene state lawmakers into an
other special session to go at balanc
ing the budget again. The second
special session will probably be held
near the end of February.
(Oregonian reports contributed to
this story)
MOVE ARID? LIFE Pond profiled on "America's Most Wanted"
__ ■
■
X
^ e A ccel ^^D egree /^ ogram
C ontact M arge G ibler
©EXK2157MZ37»
I nfo M eeting M ar 5 th
WANTED
Business Manager for
The Clackamas Print
-tuition waiver
-earn commission
-great experience
Call Nick Barron @503-657-6958 8XL2578
SALENADELA CRUZ
Opinion Editor
In an attempt to acquire more leads,
the national television program
“America’s Most Wanted” aired the
photoof Ashley Pond on Feb. 9. The
12-year old Oregon City girl vanished
Jan. 9 on her way to the bus stop at
approximately 8 a.m.
“Yeah, they aired it fix all of seven
seconds,” said Cheryl Martin,
Ashley’s grandmother.
“It was a very brief segment,” said
Lieutenant John Stewart, Oregon City
Police Department
Martin believes the Oregon City Po
lice Department contacted “America’s
Most Wanted” to obtain more leads
to help find her granddaughter. But
there are still leads that are being fol
lowed.
“We received three tips from the
broadcast, but nothing substantial
came from them,” said Stewart
‘There’s really nothing yet, more like
we saw her here and there and that’s
been checked out but that’s really if”
said Martin.
All leads are being followed and mother, that is untrue.
“I don’t think the school would
every avenue is being taken, but still
there are no conclusions as to what let her wear that” said Martin. ‘T
happened to Ashley Pond the day she think it may have been a short crop
top or something that had another
for school.
‘They’re (the authorities) are still fol shirt over it,” added Martin.
When asked where Ashley’s fa
lowing up on all the calls,” said Mar
ther was, Martin answered hesi
tin.
“We’re trying to find everyone she tantly, “I’m not sure where her fa
has come in contact with and there are ther is. He doesn’t have visitation.”
“We have talked to all of her
literally hundreds, which include fam
ily, friends and people she went to (Ashley’s) blood relatives,” said
Stewart
school with, “ said Stewart
Pond’s mother, Lori, has a boy
Currently, the authorities are inter
viewing anyone who has had any type friend who helps to support the fam
ily.
of contact with Ashley Pond.
Currently, no searches are being
“A few tips came in, but the FBI is
not ready to release any information,” done of the outlying area. Cadaver
said Beth Anne Steele, spokesperson dogs were used fix a short time to
for the FBI.
search the complexes and garages
According to reports by KATU of people on the property.
' “I thing they’re just doing back
Channel Two News, the hard drive of
her family's computer was looked at ground checks and following leads
g while interviewing anyone that has
but nothing was found.
According to reports by come in contact with Ashley,” said
“America’s Most Wanted,” Ashley Martin.
Leads will be reported as they
was last seen wearing a bikini top,
jeans and Sketchers, by her sister. come available to the press. Look in
However, according to her grand upcoming issues.